St Ives, in West Cornwall, is a superb base for exploring; within easy access of the Pedn Olva Hotel are beautiful gardens, heritage sites, ancient monuments, breathtaking cliff walks, seascapes and some of the county's fantastic beaches. Artists and authors have been drawn to Cornwall for a long time and there is no lack of things to see and do here.

Heritage and culture

Cornwall is steeped in heritage and history, both ancient and modern from industrial to farming and fishing.

You can visit Breweries and Tin mines to discover how life was in days gone by.

The Pedn Olva Hotel is a perfect base, with many places to visit within easy reach by foot, bike, Public transport or car.

Gardens

Cornwall has so many beautiful and splendid gardens for you to visit, with a climate where traditional English plants and Exotic sub-tropical specimens can grow side by side. One botanical delight you really shouldn’t miss is the famous Eden project, where giant biomes re-create botanical environments from all over the world. Other gardens to visit include Heligan, The Abbey Gardens on Tresco, Trebath, Trelissick and Trelowarren.

Artist Retreat

St Ives, Cornwall, is synonymous with art. Since the end of the 19th Century there has been a thriving art community in St Ives. Artists have found the quality of light in St Ives to be extremely conducive for painting.

St Ives is now the location of the nationally renowned Tate Gallery. Artists continue to come to St Ives, many making it their home. As a result St Ives has many art galleries.
St Ives has an Art Club, of great artistic pedigree. It was established in 1890 and was the venue used by notable artists as Greer, Sickert and Whistler.

Arguably the most famous British sculptor Barbara Hepworth, made St Ives her home for the last and most productive 45 years of her life. A year after her death the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden was opened. One of her sculptures can be seen in the town outside the Guild Hall, another in the public library.

Celtic roots

The farthest western peninsular of Cornwall, has reminders of an ancient and spiritual past. Evidence of a pre-Christian time is everywhere, from relics of ancient settlements like Chysauster to Bronze Age field boundaries of Zennor. Discover ancient burial chambers on lonely hills overlooking the sea, stone circles, holy wells and sacred standing stones. With a mystical past, residents of Cornwall say this part of the county has atmosphere all of its own

Outdoors and walking

Wherever you turn in West Cornwall, you can't escpae from the great outdoors. From St Ives you can walk uninterrupted coastal paths for miles, with rugged granite cliffs and unspoilt country views. Get away from the crowds, find yourself a secluded cove, relax for a hour or two beachcombing with only the roll of the waves and call of the gulls as company.